Description: The E-2C Hawkeye is the US Navy carrier-based tactical warning and control aircraft providing early warning and command and control functions to the carrier strike group. Additionally the E-2C carries out surface surveillance, strike and interception control, search and rescue guidance, and communications relay.

The key element of the carrier-based E-2C aircraft is its radar, the AN/APS-145, housed in a 24-foot rotating dome above the fuselage. The command and control equipment also plays a vital role. The aircraft combat debut occurred during the military campaign of Vietnam. The improved E-2C, current model, saw combat for the first time in the mid 1980s during strikes against terrorist bases in Libya.

The first model E-2 was deployed in 1964 replacing the E-1 early warning aircraft aboard the US Navy aircraft carriers. The E-2C, introduced in 1973, working together with AEGIS-equipped warships provide total air mass superiority over the American fleet. In addition to the US Navy, variants of the E-2C Hawkeye are also flown by the Egyptian Air Force, Japan Self Defense Air Force, Royal Singapore Air Force, Taiwan Air Force, Mexican Navy and the French Navy.

The E-2C was deployed successfully during the Gulf War in 1991 directing both air interdiction and combat air patrol missions over Iraq. It supported Operations Northern and Southern Watch over Iraq, and NATO operations over the former Republic of Yugoslavia, including Operation Deny Flight. Recently, in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, Hawkeyes provided critical airborne battle management and command and control functions supporting numerous close air support and battlefield air interdiction missions.

The TE-2 is a derivative of Hawkeye 2000, currently E-2 Hawkeye production standard, aircraft that will provide training for E-2s aircrews. The TE-2 will be not equipped with the Hawkeye 2000's radar, mission computer and other prime mission equipment. However, training hardware and required wiring will be installed on TE-2s. In early 2004, the US Navy awarded Northrop-Grumman a multi-year contract for three Hawkeye 2000 and five TE-2 aircraft to be delivered between 2006 and 2009.